To the Castle belongs a Garden, call'd the Zwinger Garten, which is the Tuilleries of Dresden, but not extensive enough to deserve the Name of a Garden. 'Tis encompass'd with Buildings of Free-Stone, which are Green-Houses for Orange-Trees. The Structure consists but of one Floor, on which are rais'd six large Pavilions, viz. three in front at the Entrance, two on the sides, and one over the Portico at the Entrance; which have all a Communication with one another, by a Platform that has Balustrades adorn'd with Statues. It wou'd be hard to lay what Order of Architecture prevails most in this Edifice, the Carv'd-Work with which it is decorated, being more of the Gothic than the modern Taste.
Near to this Building there's a Palace which makes a great Shew, but the Apartments are by much too small, and too low for the Ornaments employ'd about them. The King caus'd this House to be built for the Countess de Cosel, at the time when that Lady was in high Favour. No Cost was spar'd in it; but 'tis pity that a more skilful Architect had not been pitched upon to conduct it.
There are five or six other Houses, which are here call'd Hotels, but in Italy wou'd certainly pass for Palaces. The Hotel de Fuhl in the Street of Pirnitz is one of this number. It was erected by the Great Marshal de Fuhl who on his Death-bed left it to his Wife, of whom it was purchas'd by the Count de Fleming. That Minister sold it soon
after to the King, who made considerable Embellishments in it, and furnished it richly. In this Condition his Majesty gave it in 1728, to the Marshal de Wackerbarth, to make him amends when he had been burnt out of the House he liv'd in, as Governour of Dresden. After this, the Governour's House being rebuilt, the King bought the other House again of the Count de Wackerbarth, and has made it a Depositary of his Medals, Antiquities, and Curiosities.
To be sure you have heard that this Fire broke out at the Governour's House in the Night-time, while the King of Prussia was here. His Majesty actually lodg'd at the Governour's House; and was in Bed when the Fire burst out with such fury that he had but just time to make his Escape in his Night-Gown, and to save a little Box in which there were Papers of consequence; for the Floor of his Bed-Chamber fell in, the moment after the King was gone out of it. An Officer, his Wife, and her Maid-Servant perish'd in the Flames. The Count de Wackerbarth only sav'd his Wardrobe and his Plate; for his fine Library, and a noble Collection which he had of Drawings, one of the compleatest and best chosen Setts in Europe, were consum'd.
The Hotel of Hoyhm is the most considerable Building in Dresden. In about six Years time it had four different Owners. It was founded by the King's Favourite, the Count de Fitztuhm[54], his Great Chamberlain, and Minister of State; who having been kill'd in a Duel at Warsaw, by the Count de
St. Gilles, a Piedmontese that came to Poland to seek his Fortune, his Widow sold it to Marshal Fleming, who dying at Vienna not long after he had purchased it, the House fell to his Son, a weakly Child, who did not long survive him. His Mother, who was a Radzivil, was his Heiress, and one of the greatest Matches in Europe. She was soon after married again to a Polander whom she follow'd into his own Country; and when she left Dresden, she sold her House to the Count de Hoym, who at present occupies it.
Not far from this House are the King's Stables, which are well worth seeing, there being a great number of wonderful fine Horses, and some of all sorts of the rarest Breeds. Over the Stables, are Rooms full of fine Equipage, consisting of sumptuous Saddles and Housings, Sleds and magnificent Harness. Many of these Equipages are of the Turkish Mode, and plated with massy Silver, adorn'd with precious Stones.
The Arsenal, which is much boasted of here, cannot be reckon'd a fine one by any but such as have not seen the Arsenal of Berlin, to which it is not to be compar'd. There are several Rooms in it full of Arms, Brass Cannon, Helmets, and Cuirasses, which are the Tapestry of Arsenals.
Thus, Sir, you have all that I observed in Dresden: it remains for me to give you some Account of its Suburbs, and of the Pleasure-Houses which the King has in the Neighbourhood of this City.